In Japan, a shrine (jinja, 神社) is a place of worship in Shinto, the indigenous religion that honours kami (神) — sacred spirits tied to nature, ancestors, heroes, and remarkable places. Unlike a church or temple built mainly for sermons, a shrine is a living threshold between everyday life and the sacred: a grove, a gate, a hall, and open ground where people pause, bow, and leave offerings.
Shrines appear throughout daily life in Japan. Neighbours visit a local ujigami shrine for protection; students pray for exams at a Tenjin shrine; merchants favour Inari shrines; families buy omamori charms and draw omikuji fortune slips; and at New Year millions attend hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the year. Festivals (matsuri), weddings, and seasonal rituals still centre on shrine communities, even when faith is quiet or personal.
Many shrine grounds also overlap with the world of folklore on this site. Fox messengers at Inari shrines connect to kitsune legends; thunder kami echo Raijin; boundary stones and sacred trees often appear in yōkai tales. Understanding shrines helps place those creatures in their real cultural setting — not only as story monsters, but as beings once approached with respect at the altar.
Search by name, prefecture, city, or shrine type below. Each listing notes enshrined kami, location, and a short description where available. Open a shrine page for maps, visitor notes, and links to official sites when we have them.
30,440 shrines found
Kotohira Shrine
Kanagawa
Ōmononushi-no-KamiA Kotohira shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to Ōmononushi-no-Kami, following the traditions o...
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Koyama Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiA local Inari shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperity deity Inari. Like m...
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Koyasu Shrine
Kanagawa
Deity of safe childbirth and child protectionKoyasu Shrine is dedicated to prayers for safe childbirth, fertility, and the protection of children...
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Koyasu Shrine
Kanagawa
Deity of safe childbirth and child protectionKoyasu Shrine is dedicated to prayers for safe childbirth, child protection, and family welfare. The...
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Koyasu Shrine
Kanagawa
Deity of safe childbirth and child protectionKoyasu Shrine is dedicated to ensuring safe childbirth and protecting children. The name 'Koyasu' li...
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Koyasu Shrine
Kanagawa
Koyasu-sama (deity of safe childbirth and child protection)A local shrine dedicated to Koyasu-sama, the protective deity of safe childbirth, pregnancy, and chi...
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Koyurugi Shrine
Kanagawa
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)A historic shrine in Kamakura dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto deity of war and divine protection....
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Kugenuma Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kanagawa
Inari OkamiKugenuma Fushimi Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine located in the Kugenuma area of Fujisawa, Kana...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Gongen deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the powerful deities of the Kumano faith. Kumano...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the powerful Kumano deities. Kumano shrines are...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the powerful deities of the Kumano Sanzan, the t...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Gongen (manifestation of Buddhist-Shinto syncretism)A local Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture, part of the extensive network of Kumano shrines throug...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a renowned Shinto site dedicated to the worship of...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
OkappanLocated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrines dedicated to...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano OkamiLocated in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kumano Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the worship of Kumano...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the powerful deities of the Kumano Sanzan, the t...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Gongen (manifestation of Amaterasu)A Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture, part of the extensive network of Kumano shrines throughout J...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA Kumano shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture that enshrines the deities of the Kumano Sanzan, the three sa...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano GongenKumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture dedicated to the Kumano deities, part of the...
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Kumano Shrine
Kanagawa
Kumano Sanzan deitiesA branch shrine of the famous Kumano Sanzan in Wakayama Prefecture, this Kanagawa shrine maintains t...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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